InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Broken Dreams ❯ Losing ( Chapter 24 )

Broken Dreams

 

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Chapter 24

 

Losing

 

If Kagome had had her way, she would have never let go. But after a moment, Inuyasha pulled his arms from around her and stared at her in confusion. His one good eye blinked rapidly as Kagome sniffed back more tears.

“You remember…” Kagome whispered. Inuyasha kept staring.

“Kagome…I…think so.” He muttered. Kagome hugged him again. This time, Inuyasha's arms fell limp at his sides.

“You remember me, right?” She asked. Inuyasha slowly nodded against her shoulder.

“I think so, but…I remember who you are, but…it's hazy…” Inuyasha murmured. “There's some things I can't recall, but…” Inuyasha gasped suddenly and pulled away from Kagome. “Oh god…Kouga…” Kagome let him pull away as a look of horror crossed his face. Youkai's memories and Inuyasha's returning ones must have put two and two together.

“I know, I know…” Kagome replied, looking down at her wringing hands. Inuyasha gulped and bit his lip.

“Can…can I see?” He asked. Kagome nodded and reached up to slowly pull her hair back, revealing the bruise and teeth marks Kouga had ingrained on her neck. Inuyasha leaned forward and gently brushed a hand over the mark. His close scrutiny of her neck gave Kagome a better look at his head. She sighed and reached up to inspect the crescent shaped scar on the bald spot.

“Your ear…” She said to herself. Inuyasha looked at her out of the corner of his eye as Kagome's hand went back to the ear he still had. Kagome gently touched the tip, and smiled slightly as it flicked away. The small white fuzz had grown gray and stiff from three years of the mask. While he was Youkai, Inuyasha must not have cared much about his hair. Some things never changed.

“I'm sorry.” Inuyasha said suddenly. Kagome frowned as Inuyasha wrapped his arms around her again in a gentle hug.

“For what?” Kagome asked, confused. Inuyasha whimpered slightly-much to Kagome's surprise.

“I lost. I'm sorry.” Inuyasha explained. Realization came to Kagome, and she reached up to rub his back soothingly.

“It's okay. You fought as hard as you could, you did what you could have.”

“I could have won. I didn't take him seriously. I…I thought he was weak.” Inuyasha insisted. He pulled away again and sighed heavily. “I…I let him win, because I didn't try hard enough.” He looked up at Kagome, sadness leaking into his eyes, “I'm sorry. Forgive me.”

Kagome quite literally didn't believe what she was hearing. Inuyasha had gotten himself killed- well, almost- trying to protect her from Kouga. She, on the other hand, had given herself to the wolf more times then she dared count. And he was asking her to forgive him. Kagome smiled wryly and grabbed Inuyasha's hand, squeezing tightly.

“There's nothing to forgive.” She assured him. Inuyasha looked down at their hands, then back to the side.

“He's still on his way here. If you want to get out of the valley before he gets close enough to smell you. I can guide you.” Inuyasha said. Kagome's jaw dropped and his clasped his hands together and waited for an answer.

“Have you lost it? I'm not going anywhere!” Kagome shouted. Inuyasha's head snapped up.

“But Kagome…if you stay here, Kouga will find you. He mated you, Kagome, and despite how he treats you, he does love you. He won't stop until he finds you.”

“I don't care.” Kagome said firmly. “I lost you once, I don't plan to lose you again.”

“If he finds us, he'll kill me.” Inuyasha whispered. “Look at me. I'm weaker then when I fought him, I hide from fights, I haven't really fought to kill in years. I don't even have Tetsusaiga anymore. Kagome, if Kouga comes for you, I can't stop him.” Kagome smiled at his pessimistic attitude.

“What happened to the Inuyasha that was always claiming to kick the wimpy wolf's ass?” She asked coyly.

“He got a dose of reality.” Inuyasha said harshly, startling her. “I was in my prime, and I lost. What am I supposed to do now?”

“You could leave.” Kagome said. Inuyasha snorted.

“And go where? Go back to running from my enemies? Either way I hide. I didn't exactly have a home before I went after the Shikon-no-Tama, Kagome. Here…I belong.” He said. Kagome shot to her feet.

“No Inuyasha, this isn't where you belong. You're a fighter. You fought Naraku, you fought Kouga, you've killed legendary youkai even. You're not like this, you're meant to fight.”

“Kill or be killed then? I think it's a little late for that.” Inuyasha laughed darkly. “I fight and kill until I meet something that kills me? Look where that got me; alone, homeless, and weak. Kagome, what I have now…it's not much, but I have a home now. I…I do belong. I can't leave this place.” Kagome shook her head.

“If you don't leave, then I don't leave. It's that simple.” She insisted. Inuyasha looked down at his feet for a moment, then got up and faced Kagome silently for a moment before pulling her into another embrace.

“I missed you.” He said quietly. Kagome smiled and hugged back.

“Me too. And I don't place on missing you again.” Over her shoulder. Inuyasha grimaced and furrowed his brow. Regardless of what Kagome said or did, Kouga was coming. Inuyasha had gotten away with his life last time they fought- although he hadn't a clue how. This time, there wasn't going to be any miracle save. Kouga had taken Kagome as a mate. And he wasn't going to stop until he found her.